Primary links

Shopping cart

Collector's Beads

Collector's Beads includes some of the most exceptional treasures from Rita's design workshop. These are sometimes items that she was using for her own designs, or wasn't ready to sell yet.

Note: We are now in the process of updating photos and descriptions in this section, so most items are not currently listed. If you previously were interested in an item and can no longer locate it, send us a photo, description or item number and we'll check to see if it's just getting updated or if it's sold. We also have removed repeating photos so in photos with multiple items, more than the identified item is available. Thank you for your patience with this process!

Large Antique Silver Hirz Amulet, Yemen - C154$200.00Very Large Antique Silver Hirz Amulet, Yemen.
A Hirz was a traditional silver amulet made to contain a prayer or blessing to be worn as part of the bridal dowry on a woman’s wedding day.
3 top Bails, one side bail.
Opens (see photos). 6 1/2" long (16.5 cm).
Good condition with wonderful patina. A treasure. Purchased in the 1980's.
Collector Item 154

Ancient Amulets and Beads, Egypt - C347c$350.00Ancient Egyptian Amulets and Beads, Egypt and Middle East. Purchased in Egypt in the 1980s or early 1990s.
Includes a few vessel pendants. Good condition.
Collector Item 347c

Ancient Beads from Mali and Roman Period Glass beads from the Middle East - C303b$325.00Ancient Beads from Mali and Egypt - C303b.
This strand includes ancient rock crystal and other beads from Mali (excavated) and wonderful ancient glass beads from the Middle East. Also includes one Ptolemaic or Roman Period Glass Beads from Egypt in yellow or yellow and green as discussed in the book "Collectible Beads", by Robert Liu (p. 125).
Collector Item 303b

Ancient Blue, Green and Clear Glass Beads, Roman Era - C205a $425.00Ancient Blue, Green and Clear Glass Beads, Roman Era.
Includes several beads with decorative details and remnants of iridescence.
Rita purchased most of her ancient beads in Egypt - their original provenance is difficult to determine.
Collector Item 205a

Antique Ethnic Chinese Silver and Jade Necklace - C019$575.00Antique silver chain necklace with central Jade pendant and mixed pendants (animal teeth, silver, stone, and more), China.
This fabulous piece could be worn as is or taken apart. Pendant measures 4" across at widest and chain measures 34 inches. Jade center pendant and most silver pendants are in good shape, but one pendant is broken.
This item was purchased in the 1970's or 1980's.
Collector Item 019

Antique Small Silver and Gold-Washed Mauritanian Beads with Granulation and Decorative Roping, Group of 10 - C460$75.00Gorgeous Antique Small Silver and Gold Washed Mauritanian Beads with Granulation and Decorative Roping.
These are beads that one rarely sees available for sale. They are delicate, but not fragile. Each one is a feast for the eyes.
Ornamental traditional tribal decorative beads used in bridal and other jewelry in Mauritania.
Fabulous for design and for collecting. Let us know if you prefer with more or less gold wash.
80 beads available. Sold in groups of 10.
6-7mm each.
We have brought down the price of these - yay!
Collector Item 460

Magnificent Antique Granulated Gold Washed Toucouleur Diamond-Shaped Mauritanian Beads - C460b$16.50Magnificent Antique Granulated Gold Washed Toucouleur Diamond-Shaped Mauritanian Beads.
These are super special collector's beads. Each one is is a work of art, they are handcrafted by Mauritanian silversmiths for traditional bridal jewelry.
Fabulous for designing and very solidly made. Wonderful addition to add elegance to earrings or any other creation.
Range from 16.7-19.7mm (.6-.8 of an inch) in length. 6.5-8mm (.33 inch) at widest point.
I have only a limited quantity of these gorgeous treasures.
Sold individually.
Collector Item 460b

Mauritanian Aggrab Al Fadda Beads with Patina and Verdigris - C198jk$74.00Mauritanian Aggrab Al Fadda Beads with Patina and Verdigris.
2 beads available. Price is per bead.
Nicely matched and in good overall condition with wear from age. 27mm (1.06 inches) long and 19mm wide (.73 inch).
These hollow beads are created from using a silver sheet and made into two halves which are joined together to make the hollow beads. They are used as ornamental traditional tribal hair adornments in North and West Africa and are highly collectible.
These beads can be cleaned but they are sold as is.
Collector's Item 198j and k

Mauritanian Gilded Silver Gold Washed Fan-Shaped Hair Bead Ornaments - C554$90.00Mauritanian Gilded Silver Gold Washed Fan-Shaped Hair Bead Ornaments.
These hair ornaments come from the Tukolor peoples of Senegal and Mauritania. They are collectible, authentic and very special. Circa early to mid 1900's. These pendants have dents and wear.
Sold in sets of 3. Four sets of 3 available. See photos with all pendant beads in rows. "A'"is top row, "B" is second row, "C" is third row, "D"is bottom row. Listed in order. (Set C is reserved for customer (3rd row).)
NOTE: the middle pendant in the first row will be exchanged for a very similar one in better condition.
Hole at top. Some range in sizes but approximately .75 x .75 inches (19-20mm x 19-20mm).
Collector's Item 554 (a-d) - a is top row etc. Set C is reserved for customer (3rd row).
Also, check out the collection shown at the Smithsonian Museum for African Art:
https://africa.si.edu/collections/view/objects/asitem/Objects@18797/23/title-asc?t:state:flow=36c3f403-33cd-4da2-90d2-e12739084183
https://africa.si.edu/collections/view/objects/asitem/Objects@18797/35/title-asc?t:state:flow=3ae5c544-2982-480a-af0f-e45fd1dffe9f

Mixed Ancient and Antique Beads and Amulets - C353$175.00Mixed Ancient and Antique Beads and Amulets.
Includes ancient amulets from Egypt, an ancient melon bead, a gooseberry bead, and many ancient and antique glass and stone beads.
Lots of unusual and very old beads and amulets.
Collector Item 353

Moroccan Berber Necklace with 7 Decorated Coin Pendants - C508$80.00Moroccan Berber Necklace with 7 Decorated Coin Pendants.
A vintage, complete beaded rural necklace from Morocco with 6 smaller and one focal decorated coin pendants (7 total).
This wonderful old necklace could be worn as is or used for its parts.
Let us know if you would like an added Rita clasp (extra $8.00) for a finished necklace. This necklace can also go over the head and not be opened with a clasp.
Collector Item 508

Old Yemeni Granulated Silver Coin Holder or Mahfaza, Yemen - C081b$160.00A very collectible and lovely old Yemeni Mahfaza (Silver Coin Holder). Would attach to the belt of a Jambiya or dagger.
This was acquired in the 1970's and is from the 1940's or earlier. It has detailed granulation and silver work from the old Yemeni silversmiths. It is a very special piece that could be used as pendant or other part of your creation or as a gift.
Open at top.
Measures 9.5 cm (almost 4 inches) x 8 cm (3.1 inches). Weighs 106 Grams .
Collector Item 081b

Pre-Columbian Gold and Copper Nose Ring, South America - C387$90.00Incomplete Pre-Columbian Gold and Copper Nose Ring, South America - C387
Collector Item 387
We have lowered the price on this item from $150.00 to $90.00.
http://ethnicjewelsmagazine.com/nose-rings-in-pre-columbian-civilizations-by-barbara-steinberg/

Pre-Columbian Tumbaga Copper and Gold Animal Amulet - C391$450.00Pre-Columbian Tumbaga Copper and Gold Animal Amulet, S. America
Tumbaga was the name given by Spaniards to a non-specific alloy of gold and copper which they found in widespread use in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and South America.
Collector Item 391

Toucouleur Silver Decorated Focal Bead, On Silver Chain, a Traditional Necklace from Mauritania - C504b$185.00A Large Old Toucouler Tukulor Silver Decorated Focal Bead on a Silver Chain.
From the Toucouleur or Tukulor People of W. Africa. May have been used as traditional wedding gift from a groom.
This is a special, hard-to-find pendant. It is decorated beautifully, with a chain connecting to it on both sides.
It would make a stunning addition to a collection and it is wearable as is.
This was most likely made within the last 30 years (based on evidence of wear). Not sterling silver. Looks like a mix of metal and silver.
Approximately 4 inches (90mm) long (including bails). Weighs 36 grams including chain.
Chain length 9 inches each side so total necklace length is approximately 22 inches.
Collector Item 504b

Traditional Yemeni Silver Choker Necklace, Taiz, Yemen - C433$220.00Traditional Yemeni Silver Bridal Choker - Necklace, Taiz, Yemen.
1940's or older.
Bridal jewelry was often part of dowry, kept for its value in case of hard times, and as a show of wealth.
Likely Yemeni Jewish silversmithing. Now much of the Yemeni silver jewelry has been sold off or melted down in favor of gold jewelry.
14 inches long x 1 inch wide. Lots of patina. 6.5 inches of dangles.
This choker is very wearable, but will need new closure.
Similar chokers and belts can be seen in Marjorie Ransom's reference book, "Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba/Regional Yemeni Jewelry".
Collector Item 433

Yemeni Saada Silver Hirz Amulet with Chains, Dangles and Hanging Rectangular Pendant - C506$165.00Yemeni Saada Decorative Granulated Silver Wedding Dowry Amulet, with Hanging Rectangular Pendant on Chains. Likely from al-Tahl in the Saada Region of Yemen.
1940's or earlier. Wonderful patina and detailed silver work. 5 inches across and 5.5 inches long. 138 grams.
Originally an element of a Yemeni wedding necklace or dowry. See the 2 photos in this listing taken from Marjorie Ransom's reference book, "Silver Treasures in the Land of Sheba". The top item in the set in her photograph is nearly identical to this magnificent pendant.
A very special and collectible treasure!
Collector's Item 506